How is it that four men confess to a murder and rape of an eighteen year old girl, are found guilty, serve some time and then three of them receive a conditional pardon? This is what happened in Virginia. The fourth man served eight years and was released. All four men were given life sentences, so what happened? Looking at the details of the case, it's hard to say. The men say they were coerced into confessing to the crime and there was not any DNA evidence to connect them to it. A different man, Omar Ballard, confessed and was found guilty after his DNA did match. The Innocence Project, a group that works to free the wrongly convicted worked on the case. Working with multiple firms and resources, they were able to convince Govenor Timothy Kaine to pardon the men. Because Kaine decided that the men had not completely proven their innoncence, he said he reduced their sentences rather than give them a full pardon, which explains the "conditional" pardon. The men are also going to serve a lengthy probation, and will register as sex offenders.
Now, if they are guilty, then they should not have been released for any reason. If they are innocent of the crimes they were accused of, then they shouldn't have to register as sex offenders or be put on probation. What part did these men play in the rape and murder? Even after Ballard confessed, the prosecutors continued with their case against the others. They had plead guilty to avoid the death penalty. The young women's parents also believe the men are guilty and are upset with the pardons. These parents went through the trials, heard the confessions. Were they toyed with emotionally to get a conviction? Why were the charges and case pursued if someone was already linked to the crime and said to have no accomplices? An explanation is still needed. It is just not clear what really occured, or what led to this decision.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/06/AR2009080602065_2.html?referrer=emailarticle&sid=ST2009080602217
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